Main Problem in Burma as Ma Ba Tha

The Population

• In 2014, the first official census since 1983 was conducted. It included nearly 98% of the population including populations and people who had never before been counted in an official census.
• There are 51,486,253 people living in Burma. This includes the 1,206,353 people who were not enumerated in the census.They come from areas within Rakhine, Kachin, and Karen States. Reasons for this include self-identifying as an ethnic group not recognized by the government (Rohingya Muslims) and living near areas with actual or potential armed conflict.
• Burma had over 135 nationally recognized ethnic groups making it one of the most diverse countries in Asia. Burmar make up almost ⅔ of the population, and other ethnic groups (including Shans, Karens, Mon, Arakan, Chin and Kachins) add up to some 30%.
• Ethnic minorities are dominant in border and mountainous areas including: Shan in the north and northeast (Thai and Laos borders), Karen in the southeast (Thai border), and Kachin in the far north (China border).
• The population is 51.8% female and 48.2% male.
• 28.6% are under 15 years old. More than half are less than 28 – 51.5%.
• 90% of the people are Buddhist, 4% Christian, 4% Muslim, 2% Hindu.
• The population growth rate is declining and is currently at 89%.
• According to the census, nearly half of those employed stated they worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing. In Karen State, 60.7% stated they worked in these industries.

The Government

• Burma was a British colony from the 1800s through WWII with a brief Japanese invasion during the war.
• In 1948 Burma has a Prime Minister.
• 1962 sees a military coup. Burma was then a single-party state. The military rule was harsh.
• Minorities faced increasing restrictions and political exclusion. This escalated to armed conflict with various ethnic groups.
• Pushes for democracy in 1988 and 2007 were brutally repressed.
• The junta denounced the results of democratic elections in 1990, won by the National League for Democracy (NLD).
• The 2008 constitution guarantees 25% of seats in Parliament to the Military and prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from being elected as leader of the country.
• The military holds power until 2011 with new elections that begin to give power back to civilians.
• Held November 8, 2015, the NLD won 85% of seats at the national and regional elections, and the military officially transferred some power to a more civilian government.
• Though a 1982 citizenship law kept her from running for president, the NLD is headed by Aung San Suu Kyi.
• The election was seen as “most credible for over half a century”. Even so, the Citizenship Law also kept those who identify as Rohingya Muslims from running, and nearly 1,000,000 people were unable to vote.
• Several ministries are still controlled by the military including Home Affairs, Border Affairs and Defense.
• According to Transparency International, Burma ranked 147 out of 168 countries in terms of perceived corruption. The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries/territories based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be.

Human Rights Violations

• The 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report dropped Burma from the second lowest tier to the lowest. The report calls Burma a “source country” for human traffickers. Many Burmese have found themselves victims of sex and labor traffickers and well as experience forced labor within Burma.
• A Buddhist extremist group calling themselves Ma Ba Tha lobbied the government into passing the Population Control Laws. These laws were largely created to “protect” Buddhists from the Muslim minority and discriminate against Muslims and women.
• Over 2 million people from Burma live as migrant workers in Thailand (the vast majority as illegal migrants).
• More than 300,000 Burmese have been displaced or forcibly relocated for the Tasang Dam since 1996. This is one of several such cases of displacement due to hydroelectric dams.
• The World Health Organization ranked Burma’s health sector 190 out of 191 countries.
• Burma’s minimum wage is 3600 kyat (approx. $2.90) for a 8 hour work day.
• 26% of the population lives below the poverty line.
• Human rights violations are frequent and common.
• http://karennews.org/facts-on-burma/